Engine housing



Dec. 11, 12528. 1,694,790

F. N. NELSON ENGINE HOUSING Filed Sept. l0, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l '0 60/(1 AT RNEY F. N. NELSON ENGINE HOUS I NG Dec, 1l, 19.28.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fred IZ. nelson Filed Sept. l0, 1924 Patented Dec. ll, 1928.

FRED N. NELSON, 0F SEATTLE, WASHNGTON.

ENGNE HOUSING.

Application led September 10, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in boats, and more particularly to launches, marine autos, fishing boats, power life boats and similar types of vessels; it being the principal object of the invention to provide boats of the above character having water tight, portable engine housings equipped with ventilators of novel construction that operate to normally permit a free inflow of air but which will close automatically to prevent the entrance of any water which might break over the boat or reach the ventilator should the boat, for any reason, become submerged or capsized.

Another object of the invention is to provide aY ventilated engine housing, as: above stated, having a portable upper section so constructed that it may be removably fitted in an air and water tight connection upon a coaming fixed to the deck or bottom of the boat about the engine foundation and which has clamping mechanism attached thereto whereby it may be releasably held in functional position to keep the engine free from water during rough or inclement weather or 'if the vessel should become submerged or capsized for any reason. l

Still further objects of the invention reside in the various details of construct-ion of ventilators for use in the engine housing and other ventilators adapted to be fitted to the pilot house, or other compartment, and which co-operate with other features of construction, disclosed in patent applications filed by myself, to make possible the construction of non-sinkable and self-hailing boats and vessels.

ln accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, l have provided the improved construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a boat embodying the features of construction, constructed and assembled in accordance with the objects of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the boat.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the preferred type of clamping device whereby the portable section of the housing is clamped and locked upon the coaming `secured to the deck or bottom about the engine foundation.

Figure llis a front view of a clamp.

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section,

Serial No. 735,852.

showing the construction of the clamping lever.

' Figure 6 is a vertical, cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Figure 2.

Figure` 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the engine housing; parts being shown in section to better illustrate the watertight connection between the port-able section and deck and the details of construction of the ventilator tube and valve mechanism therein.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of theventilator valve parts in disassembled relation.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a ventilator of modified construction.

Figure l() shows in section the type of ventilator and valve mechanism preferred for use on pilot house, cabin and similar compa-rtments.

Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawing.

l designates, in its entirety, a boat of that type wherein the present improvements are especially useful and applicable, preferably the boat would be of sheet metal construction although any material suitable for boat building may be used.

The boat shown is of the launch type, and comprises a hull 2 and a false bottom or deck 3 providing an intermediate air tight compartment l which is divided by means of transversel and longitudinally extending partitions 5 into a plurality of separate compartpad for the ments. Above the deck, air tanks 6 may be provided under the thwarts and seats and forward and after ends which may be modified to suit the design but which in a general way will serve to add buoyancy where needed to prevent capsizing of the boat when submerged. The deck 3 is essentially located above `the normal water line with engine foundation, fish well or cargo space extending below saine, and the weight and load are so distributed that the proper metacentric height and maximum seaworthiness is obtained.

ln order that the boat will be self-hailing, I have pro-vided a plurality of valved souppers 8 in the deck that open to the exterior of the hull at points preferably near the water line. rlhese scuppers are in the form of tubular conduits and are interiorly equipped with back check valves which operate to permit an outflow of water but automatically close to prevent any inflow and which may be of that type illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 651,228.

lill

rllhe engine, as designated at l0, is set down within an opening in the deck at the center and toward the rear oit the boat and is contained within a housing` comprising a lower section ll and a portable, or removable7 upper section The lo ver section is absolutely watent it and is secured to the under side oit the declr about the opening in a watertight connection. rihe lower housing section supports the engine and, due to its being set down z, substantial distance below the deelt, gives the boat better balance and makes it inor seawerthy.

To the upper side ot the declr, about he edge et the opening, is secured a coaniing 'l2 upon which the portable, or removable, section 13 or the housing is detachably mounted. This may be ot any suitable torni and is water tight in construction. hen it is in position over the engine, its side walls i3 lie outside et the coaining, as shown in Figure and the latter projects within a downwardly opening groove le 'termed between the lower edges` et "ie walls and a flange plate l5 secured to the inner tac-es thereof. "he jointbetween the portable s ctions and coaming is made water tight by means oi a gasket et rubber, leather or canvas, lo, located within the groove l' and forming a seat against which the upper edge ot the eoaming rests. The edges ot the gasket are turned upwardly over the lower el 1 oit the flange plate l5 and walls et the co 'er and to these edges are secured metal strips if?.

For the purpose ot drawing the portable section down tight, in a water tight joint over the cozuning and ttor locking it in this position, l have provided a plurality et' clamping devices that are a 'tached to the decir at spaced intervals about the housing. Each device comprises a coiled spring 20 that is fined at its lower end to an eye bolt 2l that, in turn, is lined to the decl; and at its upper end the spring is attached to an oblong linl; 23,

through which the handle portion 2li et a locking lever Oil; is adapte; t be extended.

rEhe lever is `pmotally attached, by means et a pin 25, between a pair et lugs 26-25 turned outwardly trom a pad 2T that is riveted, or other wise secured, to the wall ot the housing.

lhen the lever is inclined position, as

moved to a downwardly l shown in dotted lines in Figure 3., the link 23 may be passed thereover, then upon upward movement et the lever, the linlt will be caused to slide thereon toward the base end and lin ly will pass over the lever supporting` lugs. The base portion oli the lever is provided with a. notch 28 in which the linlz will seat as the lever assumes upright psition and whereby the linlt is carried over, or inside ofthepivotpin The tension cit the then retains the outer end et the lever against the wall oi the housing and yieldingly against outward move Lesa-,veo

sary to throw the levers 24 outwardly and downwardly so that the linlrs 23 may be disconnected therefrom.

For the purpose ot admitting' air into the engine housing when the portable section is in place, l have provided gooseaieclr veng tilator tube 30, one end ot which extends through the top ot the housing and the other ot which is provided with a downwardly opening bell shaped mouth forming a s 3l agrfnst which a lio-at valve 32 is adapted to seat toprevent an inflow ot water through the tube that otherise would occur should the boat capsize or be submerged or should water break over it.

The preferred type ot valve is sho vn in Figures 7 and 8 whicl shows the valve to be hollow and ot' truncated conical term pro' vided with a rounded top wall Si adapted tc tit the seat 3l and in which is lined a guide spindle 35 that is slidable through a bearing 86 in a web, or strong back 37, lined within the mouth ot the tube 30. Extending from the lower ec ot the valve are lugs 90 :JO ing openings 39 through which the rods ot a guide trame extend. These rods are lined at their upper ends to the bell flange L.n at their lower ends are lined to a traine plat l2 whereby they are held rigid, and which retains the valve 32 slidably within the rods e() so that it may move trom and against the seat 8 A weighted ring l5 is supported slidably within the trame between the lower end wall et the valve and plate Ll2 by means oit loops 46 lined therein and extended about the rods l0 and this ring serves the purpose ot holding the valve seated, by gravity, and thereby prevent an inflow ot' water should the boat capsize.

ln Figure 9 is shown an alternative construction wherein a hollow ball 50 is used in lieu of the valve 32 and which serves in like manner to close the inlet should the boat capsize or water wash over the same. rlhis type et valve is also used in this boat in a ventilater tube 5S which enters the wall of a cabin 57 provided in the bow ot the boat. rlhe ventilator serves as a means tor admitting air to the cabin and the valve is provided to autolnatically close the tube to preventan inflow of water.

ln the present construction, l have proma. ,im

weave@ ventilator of the engine cover, and operates to admit more or less air into the cabin in accordance with Wind entering the mouth of the ventilator tube.

A ring 68 with a wide horizontal iiange is secured to the underside of the top wall of the housing serving the double purpose of a doubling plate for spreading the structural strains over a wider area and providing a vertical flange 69 against which a cover 70, fitted with a sealing gasket 71, may be closed from below. rlhe riveted connection through the ring is made stronger than the connection of the ventilator tube above deck so that, if for any reason the ventilator tube is broken or carried away it will not interfere with the water tightness at the deck and the cover may be closed to prevent the entrance of water into the cabin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

l. In a boat comprising a deck and having an engine for propelling the boat mounted on said deck, a coaming secured to the deck about the engine and a housing fo).l the engine adapted to be removably fitted tothe coaining in a water tight joint, and means for detachably securing it in such position.

2. ln a boat comprising a deck and having an engine for propelling the boat mounted on said deck, a coaming secured to the deck about the engine, a water tight housing` for the engine adapted to be removably fitted upon the coaming, clamping devices secured to the housing and anchor members attached to the deck for connection with said clamping devices whereby the housing may be secured in a water tight joint.

3. In a boat comprising aldeck and having an engine mounting set within the deck and an engine on said mounting for propelling the boat, a coaming secured to the deck about said engine mounting, a water tight housing for the engine adapted to be removably fitted upon said coaming in a water tight connection, clamping devices for securing the housing and an air Ventilating tube opening' into the housing having a valve therein operable to close the tube by an inflow of water.

1l. lin a boat comprising a deck and having an engine mounting set within the deck and an engine for propelling the boat on said mounting, a coaming secured to the deck about the engine having a vertical flange, a water tight housing for the engine having a downwardly opening channel about its `lower edge adapted to receive therein the flange of said coaniing, a packing strip fitted within the channel and clamping devices for detachably securing the housing to the deck.

ln a boat comprising a deck and having an engine mounting set within the deck and an engine for propelling the boat on said mounting, a coaming secured to the deck about the engine having a vertical flange, a water tight housing for the engine having a downwardly opening channel about its lower edge adapted to receive therein the flange of said coaming, a packing strip fitted within the channel to receive the edge of the coam ing flange thereagainst, a plurality of notched clamping levers pivotally fixed to the housing, a plurality of anchor devices comprising coiled springs having ends secured to the deck and rings secured to their other ends for receiving the said levers and for seating in said notches of the lever to re- ,tain the housing tightly in position.

6. ln a boat comprising a deck and having an engine mounting set within the deck and an engine on said mounting for propelling the boat, a coaming secured to the deck about said engine mounting, a water tight cover for the engine adapted to be removably fitted upon said coaming in a water tight connection, clamping devices for securing the cover and an air ventilating tube opening into the cover having a downturned, open outer end providing a valve seat, a valve guide fixed to said outer end, a float valve contained in said guide and adapted to close the tube when lifted against the valve seat.

7. ln a boat comprising a deck and having an engine mounting set within the deck and an engine on said mounting for propelling the boat, a coaming secured to the deck about said engine mounting, a water tight housing for the engine adapted to be removably fitted upon said coaming in a water tight connection, clamping devices for securing the housing and an air Ventilating tube opening into the cover having a downturned, open outer end flared outwardly to form a valve seat, a valve guide frame fixed to said outer end of the tube, a float valve contained within said guide and adapted to be lifted against said seat to close the tube and a weight contained within the frame beneath the float whereby the latter will be moved against the seat should the device be inverted.

8. The combination with a ventilator tube equipped with a downwardly facing valve seat at its outer end, a valve guide frame lined 'to the end of said tube comprising a` plurality ,'of parallel guide rods and a plate Joining said rods at their outer ends, a float valve having guide loops attached thereto and slidable on the said rods, and having an end portion adapted to fit against the valve seat and a weight slidable on the guide rods beneath the float for pressing the float against the valve seat when the device is inverted..

Signed at Seattle, King County, l/Vashington, this 23rd day of August 1924.

FRED N.y NELSON. 

